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Stay off Rivers for your own good, Wike warns #RevolutionNow protesters

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Stay off Rivers for your own good, Wike warns #RevolutionNow protesters

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has warned anyone who intends to participate in the Omoyele Sowore-led ‘RevolutionNow’ protest to stay off the streets across the state.

Wike, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday by his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, said that Rivers State was not part of the #RevolutionNow protest.

The governor said: “Rivers State does not subscribe to what the #RevolutionNow protest represents and Rivers State is not part of the protest”.

He directed security agencies in the state to arrest anybody involved in the #RevolutionNow protest and also take all necessary steps to prosecute such persons immediately.

Wike also urged parents to ensure that their children are not misled by agents of Sowore to participate in the illegal protest.

“All council chairmen are directed to be at alert. If they suspect any illegal gathering, they should report to the security agencies for immediate action,” he said.

We will not allow criminal elements occupy Nigeria, Buratai vows

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We will not allow criminal elements occupy Nigeria, Buratai vows

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has vowed not to allow criminal elements occupy any part of Nigeria.

Buratai, who was speaking at the 61st passing out parade of the Nigerian Military School, Zaria in Kaduna State, reiterated his commitment to combat all security challenges confronting the nation.

Represented by the Chief of Policy and Planning, Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun, Buratai said that the army in collaboration with other security agencies, is doing everything possible to tame the resurgence of the Boko Haram, kidnapping, Armed banditry and other related crimes across the country.

“I will like to reassure you all that the Nigerian army is committed to the unity and security of this country and will do everything humanly possible to ensure that no part of this country is occupied by criminal elements.

“We will continue to support the civil authorities by ensuring that our country men and women are safe and protected in the course of their legitimate activities,” he stated.

According to the Army chief, the Federal Government is concerned with the security challenges in parts of the country.

He however noted that the military is winning the war against terrorism by stabilising the north-eastern region.

One of the achievements recorded in the military operations in the northeast, he stated, is the improvement of economic activities in the affected area.

“The Nigerian Army in collaboration with other sister services and security agencies has been able to stabilise the situation, especially in the north-eastern part of Nigeria.

“Consequently, economic activities of the affected areas are gradually improving as the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are voluntarily returning to their ancestral homes with farmers going back to their farmlands,” he stated.

While appreciating the efforts of soldiers in the ongoing military operations in the fight against terrorism, the COAS admonished the new grandaunts to be loyal to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Northern youth groups boycott Sowore’s planned protest

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Northern youth groups boycott Sowore’s planned protest

Gamji Members’ Association (GAMA), a non governmental organisation of Northern Nigeria’s Youth has called on people of Northern Nigeria to boycott the planned protest against the Administration of President Muhammad Buhari of Nigeria coordinated by a group ‘Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria’.

The group had called on citizens to join a planed protest which would commence on March 5th August, 2019.

Mr Frederick Odorige who spoke on behalf of the Coalition, said for too, the common wealth of Nigerians had been sacrificed on the “evil alter of self-seeking politicians”.

The Coalition expressed concerns over the many ills plaguing the country such as hardship, steady borrowing that has surpassed N24 trillion , continued killing by herdsmen, Boko Haram and increasing kidnapping activities.

However, in a statement by Dr Abdullahi Bala Isah, The National President of the Gamji Members Association on Saturday in Minna the Niger State Capital urged all peaceful loving Nigerians especially its members and associates to disregard the call as its motive is simply to “create chaos and instability” in the country.

“From all indications, it is sponsored by the 5th columnist whose primary interest is to cause disunity and disintegration of the country,” the statement alleged.

The association said it considered the planned protest an affront on the constituted authorities with the sole aim of derailing it after several unsuccessful attempts in the past through creations of ‘separatists’ in different regions of the country.

“The separatist’s continuous reference to the present situations without acknowledging the build up to the situations which is caused by massive corruption witnessed over the years by successive administrations makes the call suspicious,” it observed.

The association pointed out that it has built its reputation in the past by creating platforms for national discourse for Nigerians irrespective of the diverse background, adding that it still strongly believe that dialogue is the veritable option out of any crisis.

“We have and will continue to clamour for ‘dialogue, purposeful leadership and good governance’ as a veritable means for national development. Our call therefore is for citizens to support Federal, States and Local Governments in only efforts that will lead to elimination or reduction to the barest levels corrupt activities that have bedeviled this nation and deprive us of economic prosperity over the years,” it stressed.

 

We are not part of any planned mass action – NLC, distances self from Sowore’s ‘Revolution’

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We are not part of any planned mass action – NLC, distances self from Sowore’s ‘Revolution’

The Nigerian Labour Congress NLC has dissociated itself from any planned mass action within the country in the days ahead.

In a press statement made available to TeleVision Nigerian Comrade Ayuba Waba reiterated that NLC is neither organising nor getting associated with any mass action or street protest over any issue in any part or every part of the country in the days ahead.

”Before we embark on any mass action or street protest, the issues in contestation must first be thoroughly debated by the appropriate organs of the Congress.

”Similarly, the decision to do a mass action or any form of protest is usually taken by those organs.

”Accordingly, we wish to state unambiguously that neither has such an issue arisen nor a debate for a mass action taken place, let alone a decision to proceed on a mass action. We are therefore not involved in any street protest”.

Comrade Waba called on all affiliate unions to disregard any form of mobilisation for a mass action.

Omoyele Sowore Arrested by DSS

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Omoyele Sowore Arrested by DSS

Operatives of the Department of State Services have reportedly arrested the  publisher on Sahara Reporters and convener of #RevolutionNow Protests, Omoyele Sowore.

It was gathered that Sowore was picked up at his apartment in the early hours of Saturday.

Sowore posted a distress tweet at exactly 1:25 am with an eyewitness confirming that his phone was forcefully taken from him.

The tweet read, ” DSS invades Sowore’s”.

Army refutes Wall Street’s report of secret cemetery concealing death toll of soldiers

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Army refutes Wall Street’s report of secret cemetery concealing death toll of soldiers

The Nigerian Army has reacted to reports circulating on the social media emanating from an American tabloid the Wall Street Journal as baseless and a figment of the imagination of the author.

In a statement by the Deputy Director Public Relations, Operation LAFIYA DOLE Colonel AD Isa advised the general public to disregard the allegations as written by Joe Parkinson and in The Wall Street Journal.

He stated that the Nigerian Army remains resolute in its fight against the insurgents and will never be distracted by media propaganda. The threat to the national security of our beloved country require that all hands are on deck to win the war against terrorism and insurgency.

The full statement reads in full

RE: SECRET MILITARY CEMETERY CONCEALS TOLL OF ISLAMIST INSURGENCY IN NIGERIA

The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a mischievous Article titled, Secret Military Cemetery Conceals Toll of Islamist Insurgency in Nigeria, was written by Joe Parkinson and released on 31 Jul 19 in “The Wall Street Journal”. The writer alleged that the bodies of dead soldiers are covertly transported from a mortuary, delivered by truck and laid by flashlights into trenches dug by infantry or local villagers paid a few dollars by shift. It also alleged that soldiers were buried in unmarked graves at night in secret graves.

Similarly, it alleged that Nigerian Government last summer stopped reporting the deaths of soldiers in its fight against Boko Haram. Likewise, it claimed that the operational command holds the bodies of 1000 soldiers killed since the terror groups began offensive last summer. Additionally, it reported on one Mercy Tamuno, who demanded to see where her husband was buried, and she was led to a spot marked with a plastic bottle with her husband’s name written on it. It further claimed that 2 soldiers from the late soldier’s unit said the bottle was prepared to appease his wife. Furthermore, the writer made some derogatory comments on rotation of troops, gruesome punishments to suspected jihadists and declining morale of own troops.

Having critically studied the allegations, it was obvious that the writer’s claims were baseless and intended to smear the good image of the NA and lower the moral component of troops in the ongoing Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations. In this light, I wish to respond on behalf of the NA as follows:

Maimalari Military Cemetery is the only recognized place where burials are held in the Theatre. The stretch of land where the cemetery is located and produce beyond belongs to the NA and not taken over from any person or group of persons as claimed. This area like in other armies is secured to honour and give recognition to the sacrifices of officers and soldiers who paid the supreme price by laying down their lives for the peace, security and unity of the country. In our own case, a hall of fame was also built in the cemetery to honour the fallen heroes and act as reference point for posterity.

Burial procedure in the NA is entrenched in the NA Administrative Policies and procedures. The procedures is triggered by first notifying the higher headquarters and NOKs of the deceased personnel for coordination. It is a command responsibility and attended by officers and soldiers of the unit within the Theatre of operations. The timings for all burials in the Theatre have always been before the flags are lowered in the evening.

Maimalari cemetery is partitioned into 2 to accommodate Christians and Islam faithfuls. The graves are also partitioned, and grave pegs placed to mark each grave. Hence, the claims that soldiers were buried in unmarked graves at night in secret graves is unfounded. Suffice to state that all deceased are also honoured with the 21-gun salute in line with the ethics and traditions of the NA. As such, one wonder how the firing could be done in secret contrary to NA traditions. Certainly, commanders on their own cannot carry the corpses to the cemetery without the knowledge and support of the troops. If this is done with the awareness of the troops, certainly it would not have been a secret. Likewise, if not done with their knowledge, the commander on his own would not be able to drive the vehicle, carry the corpses, dig the graves and also bury the bodies without any support. Thus, this allegation is not only worrisome but also questionable. More especially when we have the Governor, Service Chief, Principal Staff Officers from Service Headquarters, Commanders, NOKs, families and members of the press that did attend funeral ceremonies of fallen heroes.

On the allegation that Nigerian Government last summer stopped reporting the deaths of soldiers in its fight against Boko Haram is also disturbing. Generally, events and lessons learnt from battles have shown that death in combat is inevitable. In as much as the NA tries to reduce casualties in the battle against the insurgents, it still happens as one of the hazards of war fighting. Obviously, when such occurrences happen, it is made known to higher headquarters to trigger burial procedures and processing of benefits. This is also done with the consent of the NOKs and not in the secret. Soldiers also move in pairs or in groups, as such one wonder how the corpses could be isolated without the knowledge of their colleagues, which would have dampened their morale to fight or take orders from their superiors.

The claim that the operational command holds the bodies                 of 1000 soldiers killed since the terror groups began offensive last summer is just unbelievable. The questions are where, when, why and for what reason would 1,000 bodies be kept in the hide without anyone seeing it or perceiving the smell. Curtaining, this allegation further buttresses the fact that the writer intends to smear the good image of the NA and the Government.

The report that one Mercy Tamuno, who demanded to see where her husband was buried, and she was led to a spot marked with a plastic bottle with her husband’s name written on it is again unbelievable. Interestingly, 13NA/70/9866 LCpl Adah Tamuno, whose wife; Mrs Mercy Tamuno claimed her husband was buried in the secret grave gave false report. The late gallant (soldier was serving with 119 TF Bn at Metele and died during combat. He was officially buried on 29 Nov 18 at the Maimalari Military Cemetery with proper military honour by daylight with the grave well marked, not with a plastic bottle, alongside his colleagues. Pictures of the grave are hereby attached. The last burial in the Theatre was that of Capt A Mohammed who was killed on 17 Jul 19 in an ambush alongside with Col EE Elemele and 5 others along Jakana-Benisheik MSR. The Capt was buried on 18 Jul 19 at the Maimalari Military Cemetery in accordance with Islamic rites. The burial was attended by the families of the deceased and other sympathizers.

The writer made some derogatory comments on rotation of troops, gruesome punishments to suspected jihadists and declining morale of own troops. Suffice to state that the NA has a standing policy on the rotation of troops in the Theatre. The last rotation of de-inducted troops was conducted on 28 Jul 19 and the troops are currently at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji undergoing de-induction training. The next batch of troops to be inducted are already at the Nigeria Army Special Forces Training School at Buni Yadi for induction training, after which they would be moved to the Theatre for deployment. The pictures of the rotated troops are also available and hereby attached. In terms of the gruesome punishments to captured insurgents, one wonders why the writer decided to contradict himself in the article by reporting the immoral activities of the insurgents. The NA is a professional Army and captured insurgents are treated in line with global best practices and in accordance with International Humanitarian Laws. Above all, the morale of troops in the theatre remains high and not as reported. It is obvious that the essence of the report is to distract own troops from maintaining the tempo in the ongoing operations.

The public is hereby advised to disregard the allegations as written by Joe Parkinson and released on 31 Jul 19 in The Wall Street Journal. The NA remain resolute in its fight against the insurgents and will never be distracted by media propaganda. The threat to the national security of our beloved country require that all hands are on deck to win the war against terrorism and insurgency.

Governor, Service Chief, Principal Staff Officers from Service Headquarters, Commanders, next of kins, families as well as members of the Press attend befitting funeral ceremonies of fallen heroes with Gun Salute as shown in the pictures below.

 

AD ISA

Colonel, Deputy Director Public Relations, Operation LAFIYA DOLE

Revolution: Amnesty International fingered in planned mass protest to trigger war in Nigeria as protesters demand immediate expulsion

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Revolution: Amnesty International fingered in planned mass protest to trigger war in Nigeria as protesters demand immediate expulsion

Amnesty International has been accused of coordinating the planned nationwide protest under the theme ‘Days of Rage’ with the aim of triggering war in Nigeria.

Some Nigerians have concluded plans to embark on a nationwide Revolution protest to demand what it termed to be a better Nigeria.

However, Concerned Citizens Conference of Nigeria said the planned protest is the brainchild of Amnesty International just to destabilize the unity of Nigeria.

The group said Amnesty International was exploiting members of the group as primers to trigger the destabilization of Nigeria, which is an agenda it has been trying to implement for a long time.

Hon. Samuel Adadu, National Presdient of the group, who spoke at the declaration of a 7-day nonstop protest to demand that Amnesty International leaves Nigeria, said the convener, Omoleyte Sowore, IMN, IPOB and their co-travelers in the planned violence are all united by one factor, their connection with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with its candidate that was defeated in the last presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The group called on the Federal Government and the law enforcement st expel Amnesty International from Nigeria before August 2, 2019.

The statement reads below.

We have as a matter of discipline resisted reacting to the so called “RevolutionNow Movement” convened by one Omoyele Sowore. We have since found out that Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), suffers such credibility crisis that his own party suspended him for “anti-party activities, misappropriation of funds and inability to convene the National Executive Committee (NEC).” This tells you a lot about the character of the man leading a supposed revolution: one who is not loyal to his party and can never be loyal to Nigeria; one who steals even from his own party and is desirous of accessing the public treasury; and one who is incapable of managing a party he leads but is eager to mismanage Nigeria.

The RevolutionNow Movement, unfortunately, beyond even this charlatan, who in reality is fronting for several proscribed terrorists organizations. Subsumed in the protests are the interests of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Nigeria’s latest terrorist organization and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), another terrorist organization. These are groups that initially owned the protests that they claimed they want to use to express their RAGE, a clear indication that they want to go on an orgy of arson and terrorism of industrial proportions.

Sowore, IMN, IPOB and their co-travelers in the planned violence are all united by one factor, their connection with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with its candidate that was defeated in the last presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. They have all enjoyed funding and material support from him. It is no coincidence that the criminal demands that they had each in the past made differently are now harmonized as a group of demands RevolutionNow Movement. The demands are also consistent with the predictions of how Atiku will destabilize the country to precipitate the formation of an interim national government.

The tantrums of these failed entities and individuals have proven inconsequential, which was why we had concluded that reacting to their gripe would have amounted to giving them relevance and promoting them. They know not to break the law as there are ample provisions by way of legislation and judicial processes to address whatever crimes are committed in the course of them pursuing their illegality.

Our discovery that these individuals and organizations are in reality proxies for a foreign interest, Amnesty International, has altered the dynamics. Amnesty International is exploiting them as primers to trigger the destabilization of Nigeria, which is an agenda it has been trying to implement for a long time. The long term support that the international NGO has given to Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), IMN, IPOB and other criminals in Nigeria is meant to culminate in the meltdown to be caused by the RevolutionNow Movement.

Amnesty International has been running social media campaigns in support of the protests, which is in addition to its trying to blackmail the Federal Government of Nigeria into not responding to the threats posed by protests being organized by the terrorists and scammers.

We have no other country to call our own hence our resolve to defend Nigeria from Amnesty International’s attacks on the sustenance of our democracy. We have therefore decided to launch an a 7-Day #ExpelAmnestyInternational Protests beginning from August 5 to send Amnesty International put of Nigeria. The protests will not only target Amnesty International’s offices and interests everywhere in Nigeria but will also target any protest that Amnesty International is supporting, like the RevolutionNow Movement. The protest will be seven days non-stop, including Saturday and Sunday.

The Federal Government and the law enforcement agencies should not that the only way to stop our protest is if they successfully expel Amnesty International from Nigeria before August 2, 2019. We will not at this time announce what will happen if the NGO is not out of Nigeria at the close of the 7-Day #ExpelAmnestyInternational Protests since that will be premature. But we are confident that the protests will be so intense and effective that the nuisance group would have left Nigeria before we are done.

The Wall Street Jobber and Nigeria’s Jaded Opposition

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The Wall Street Jobber and Nigeria’s Jaded Opposition

By David Onmeje

The only redeeming aspect of a story written by Wall Street Journal about secret soldiers’ graves in Madagali, Borno state is the line that read “The Nigerian military and the presidency didn’t respond to requests for comment on the war, casualties and the secret cemeteries.”

It would have taken a nation led by a people consumed by an inferiority complex to dignify the report, “Secret Military Cemetery Conceals Toll of Islamist Insurgency in Nigeria,” with a response. Expressing any opinion or stating the government side to the story would have amounted to validating the lies that WSJ is desirous of offloading on the world. It would have also used such response to negotiate a higher payout from its client(s).

Understandably, the refusal to comment on the story did not stop its publication. It could not have anyway. But it is time that someone, who else but a bullied Nigeria, put the racist publication in its place. Perhaps it will now be clear to the world that what they regard as an intentional news title is nothing but a deep state operation, that has branched into offering mercenary consultancy to disgruntled opposition members in any country of interest. Another thing that has become clearer is the tendency for WSJ to pick up issues that are already in the public domain and cast them in a new light to satisfy the agenda it is in pursuit of, something the President of the United States, Donald Trump, will effectively declare as “fake news”.

Possibly in a bid to do maximum damage, WSJ turned the whole story upside down. It created the impression that the remains in the 1000 graves were those of soldiers that were killed yesterday or last week or last month or even last year, when in reality some of the bodies predated the Buhari administration. In reality, the cemetery holds remains dating from the Goodluck Jonathan era when Boko Haram was a big issue. The publication came off as intended to cause mischief, a counter to the Presidency’s declaration of the defeat of Boko Haram a few days prior. It is also a deliberate plan to derail democracy in Nigeria by painting the government bad to incite citizens.

It gets even worse. Not only does the newspaper act as a willing catalyst for neocon illegitimate intervention to disrupt sovereign states across the world it has now also become a paid-hire-propaganda mill, buyable by willing and corrupt despots and in the case of Nigeria – a rotten opposition. The obscene romance between WSJ and Atiku Abubakar, who was one of the opposition candidates on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is well known. This explains the barrage of negative stories that the publication ran around the Nigerian elections.

In the period leading to the election, the reputation of Atiku doling out funds to foreign hitmen is well known and availability of money was no problem for the man whose sole political credentials center around the state resources he was able to corner to himself when he held office as Nigeria’s Vice President. Curiously, not much of the malignant stories written by WSJ referenced this sleazy character who would later become its largest patron in Nigeria.

The report about the military graves was allegedly done at the instance of Atiku who, running short of things to blackmail the incumbent government with, is in desperate need of something to keep glimpses of his torpedoed ambition in public consciousness. As fictitious as this allegation is, the speed with which Atiku jumped on the report to react to the report of the graves gave the game away. What is WSJ not telling it’s readers?

WSJ painted the picture of a country losing its war against ISWAP – Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists without acknowledging its role or contributions towards the creation of the worst threat to humanity – jihadi terrorists. The rise of the Islamic State cannot be accounted for without the misguided war that destabilized Iraq. That war, based on a non-existent weapons of mass destruction, would not have happened without the input of ab evil entity like WSJ. An article in the World Socialist Web Site, “The Wall Street Journal and the occupation of Iraq,” detailed how the Journal manipulated the situation to get its war. Unfortunately, there is no record of WSJ suffering consequences for such lies, which explains why it continues to implement such destabilization agenda against other countries through its reports.

The instability occasioned by that war provided the fertile ground for the Islamic State to emerge and thrive. It played a similar role in Syria in pursuit of overthrowing Bashir al-Assad as president of Syria, which helped ISIS to spread faster than necessary. This is the terror organization that fled the Middle East, in the wake of a Russian backed onslaught, and relocated to the Lake Chad Basin to replace a Boko Haram that had succumbed to punishing operations of the Nigerian military.

It is interesting how WSJ was able to find thousands of secret graves holding the remains of Nigerian troops in a publicly known cemetery but is too limited to report the relationship between its atrocious activities in the Middle East and ISIS’ infiltration of the north east of Nigeria. It found corruption and secrecy in Nigeria but somehow remains unable to expose the financial network that had kept ISWAP well financed and equipped with modern weaponry. Somehow, the ethical responsibility to report in a way that guarantees the marshalling of resources to combat terrorism in Nigeria eluded this so called reputable organization.

It discarded all these responsibilities and instead pitched tent with the opposition in Nigeria, which may just be complicit in strengthening the terrorists to be resistant against a sovereign state. It engaged in acts that are inconceivable in its own country of origin, for no news organization in the United States will dare report terrorism in a manner that gives advantage to the terrorist. Such media outfit will automatically consign itself to the status of a pariah. But that is exactly what WSJ has done in Nigeria, ostensibly because it considers itself beyond the reach of the country in terms of repercussions.

Thankfully for Nigeria and the present administration, consequences for WSJ’s irresponsible acts do not have to come from them. The loss of credibility that will naturally follow its romance with the opposition in Nigeria will cause it more damage than the hoax about Saddam Hussein’s non-existent weapons of mass destruction did. When the true extent of collusion between WSJ and the PDP/Atiku become known to its readers they will realize that they have been conned out of the money they pay to subscribe for WSJ’s jaundiced articles. Its articles and news stories about Nigeria in the past two years re being paid for by the opposition, which sadly is also being jobbed by a WSJ that has not been able to deliver on unsettling the Buhari administration.

What the WSJ can do under the circumstances is to make fair disclosure to Atiku Abubakar and the PDP that it is not in a position to reverse their jaded fortune; each lie it has published to create talking points for the opposition come with shelf life that lasted less than three days because they are short on facts. Such truthfulness will help Atiku realize the futility of throwing more money after bad money in the hope of overthrowing the government like he has been trying to. But a publication that is dubious to the point of misleading its readers and misleading even nations will never summon the decency to stop scamming its client, which is why the Nigerian opposition will remain jaded for as long as it relies on fraudulent enterprise like WSJ to unseat the government for it instead of eschewing corruption and seeking the forgiveness of the Nigerian masses.

Onmeje is a public affairs analyst and wrote this piece from the United Kingdom.

Understanding Atiku’s love for blood and the mission to destroy Nigeria

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Understanding Atiku’s love for blood and the mission to destroy Nigeria

By Richards Murphy

I have never been a fan of Atiku Abubakar for just one reason. The fact that he always tries to play smart and on the intelligence of the people by painting a holier than though image in public and the devils incarnate in private.

Those that know who Atiku Abubakar is would always hesitate to have dealings with him because he or she might be on the verge of extinction. The recent statement credited to him as regards a report published by The Wall Street Journal titled “The Secret Burial of 1000 Soldiers Killed by Boko Haram/ISWAP: Nigerians Are Entitled to Know the Truth” is at best the typical Atiku Abubakar at work.

One thing is obvious, and he has refused to come to terms with his electoral defeat at the general elections. While it is normal for individuals to rue a loss, but it is despicable for such individuals to hide under the cover of patriotism to fuel the seed of discord in the polity. It can be understandable of some sort if such individual is driven by passion and a commitment to the unity of the country.

However, this cannot be said of Atiku Abubakar whose history is replete with acts of a disservice to the country, someone who had short-changed the country in ways too numerous to mention. I stand to be corrected, if Nigerians had fallen for the bait put forward by him and voted him as president of this country, we have been done for it.

I am pained penning this article because I expect so much sober reflection from Atiku Abubakar. But the more I except some form of decency from him, the more I get disappointed with his actions and inactions. The recent unguarded statement credited to him serves as a vivid example of lack of patriotism, deception and a grand plot to cast the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in a bad light in an attempt to instigate the people against the government.

Soon after the report was published, he has gone to press without the courtesy of verifying the claims contained in the report. What does this tell us? A man that wants to by all means curries public sympathy at the detriment of the truth and the collective interest of the country. At this point, I beg to ask questions. Questions that would task the senses of well-meaning Nigerians.

What point was Atiku Abubakar trying to prove with his statement? To score a cheap political point? To lend support to the foreign conspiracy against Nigeria? To appear like the saint who is without blemish? I am lost for words. I am as well pained to the extent that I weep for Nigeria and at the same time grateful to God that Nigerians were not deceived into voting for Atiku Abubakar during the last general elections.

Atiku Abubakar stated that “he read the report by the Wall Street Journal that over a thousand Nigerian soldiers have been secretly buried at night by the Muhammadu Buhari led administration, to hide the true state of the war on terror, with a sense of heartbreak and shock.”

The word heartbreak and shock is what I struggled to come to terms with. I was somewhat confused in the sense that someone with a despicable character could come forward to express a deceitful empathy to the families of the supposed victims as contained in the Wall Street Journal report. The question thus is would such thing if true, happen and go undetected by the eagle-eyed press in Nigeria and those working closely in the theatre of operations in North-East Nigeria? Your guess is as good as mine.

We must learn to call a spade a spade in Nigeria if we are desirous of making progress. Nigeria, as it stands, is not a banana republic and also a free press society where there are no restrictions on press freedom. So for a foreign media organization to put forward such a false narrative is suspect and the fact that members of the opposition would hold on to it and attempt to give credence to it without objectivity is most despicable and how not to be patriotic.

He further stated that “he could not fathom that in the space of a year, 1000 of these great patriots were killed and buried secretly without their families being told.” If this is not mischief, I don’t know what else to call it. Also, coming from someone who aspired to lead the country at the highest level makes it more worrisome.

One thing stands clear. The fact that this is a grand conspiracy with the intent to cause disaffection in the polity. Take it or leave it, this grand deception won’t work, as Nigerians are wiser and in tune with the realities on the ground regardless of what the enemies of Nigeria plan for the disintegration of the country.

The said report is also questionable in the sense that there are no iota objectivity or logical reasoning in its conceptualization and delivery. As a scholar, I am trained to look at issues objectively. However, I must state in unequivocal terms that the Wall Street Journal report is indeed questionable and every discerning Nigeria must look at it carefully to see the plot.

As an individual and by my training, I would put the issues raised in proper perspectives in the interest of posterity and the sensibilities of the close to 200 million Nigerians. I won’t play to the gallery to score a cheap political point. I won’t stoop so low to give credence to a foreign report that is not backed with tangibles. I would ask strategic questions that would ultimately put issues in proper perspective for the unsuspecting members of the general public.

I won’t be quick to take sides. I won’t be quick to paint a gory picture based on unverifiable pieces of evidence. I must as matter of commitment think about Nigeria my country, the land of my birth. I won’t also delve into issues I am not well informed about. Also, I won’t run down my country for a plate of porridge.

This is the story of Atiku Abubakar who has deployed all means to make the country ungovernable. A man that is quick to run down the efforts of the present administration towards uniting Nigerians. So a man who has vowed that Nigeria would not know peace because he lost at the general elections is not one to be taken seriously.

But for how long he intends to carry on in this trend is left to be imagined as one thing stands clear. He has a mission to ensure the disintegration of Nigeria not minding whose ox is gored. This is the real national emergency that Nigerians must confront. And not the half-truths and illogical conclusions. I wonder what Atiku Abubakar stands to gain with his love for bloodshed.

But I have a strong message for him. Nigeria would experience peace regardless of his nocturnal scheming and sponsorship of violence in the country. It would serve him no good now and in the years ahead. At this point, it is advised that he retraces his steps and allow peace to reign supreme in Nigeria for the journey ahead requires all hands to be on deck. A word is enough for the wise.

Murphy, a security expert wrote this piece from Calabar.

Tiv vs Jukun crisis: Middle Belt group writes TY Danjuma over incessant killings by own militias

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Tiv vs Jukun crisis: Middle Belt group writes TY Danjuma over incessant killings by own militias

The Middle Belt Reformers Movement (MBRM) has written elder statesman and former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd) over the incessant killings by some persons believed to be Jukun militias in Taraba and Benue States.

The middle belt group said there is an obvious agenda by the Jukun ethnic group to wipe others from the face of the earth.

The warning came barely three days after three Benue students and a lecturer of the Federal University, Wukari were killed by some suspected Jukun militias, thus leading to the closure of the institution by the management.

In a letter addressed to Gen. Danjuma (rtd) and obtained by our reporter on Friday, the middle belt group frowned at what it tagged as ‘conspiratoral silence’ by Danjuma and other elders on the continuous killing of Tiv people in Taraba and Benue by Jukun militias.

The lettere jointly signed by Prince Aduku Obi, President, Middle Belt Reformers’ Movement and Alli Ahmed, Secretary- General, called on the elder statesman and his group to speak out over the wanton killings in the states .

The letter reads below.

“TY Danjuma: It is Time To Check Your Conscience: An Open Letter”

1. We are most obliged at the beginning of August, a new month, to send you fraternal greetings, as supposed elder statesman, former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Defence Minister, Chairman, Nigerian Christian Elders Forum (NCEF), UN- recognized international investor, prominent son of Nigeria’s Middle Belt region and now born-again as we have been made to believe.

2. Members of the Middle Belt Reformers Movement (MBRM) holds you in very high esteem in this part of the region. There is no doubt that we are proud of you for exemplifying our proud geographical and cultural heritage, the Almighty God Himself has bequeathed to us through our ancestors.

3. When we look around and see your likes still alive, we feel protected. We feel secured against all forces of destruction obsessed with blighting the cordiality we have enjoyed by wishing to sow the seed of discord to forcefully break the chain of our communality relished for decades.

4. The Middle Belt region is a microcosm of Nigeria in the sense that outside the Igbos and a few other tribes, every other ethnicity from the nearly 500 ethnic nationalities in our cherished country have aboriginal roots in this region.

5. Needless to remind you, this region is a complex mix of ethno-religious identities which have co- existed in peace and harmony, a tradition we have inherited from our forefathers.

6. Whatever peace we savoured before today, if we recount now is because elders and leaders like you, alongside a few others such as late Chief Solomon Lar, Amb. Yahaya Kwande, Wantaregh Paul Unongo and hordes of others have been tutuledged by our progenitors on these templates of peaceful co- existence.

7. Therefore, we are always elated and bestrode the land proudly when you particularly galvanise other eminent Nigerians to raise a voice at our behest on issues affecting us.

8.Not long ago, when the British Parliament’s Committee invited you or the NCEF to address it on the alleged plots of Islamisation of Nigeria and the alleged religious persecution of christians in the predominantly christian Middle Belt, we were extremely excited. Your vocality on this issue was trenchantly touchy.

9. At least, we knew instantaneously that we have leaders who, like the late Captain Thomas Sankara, former Military Head of State of Burkina Faso, once asserted; can raise a voice for the voiceless in the region.

10. Sir, but we are feeling disappointed with you at the moment. We feel whatever “war” you launched against alleged killings by herdsmen, Fulanis, Hausas or allied groups, in which you postured as so “concerned” and led leaders of your ilk in remonstrations for us have piled into insignificance with your comfortable passivity on the resurgence of the Jukun/ Tiv crisis, which is ongoing.

11. Middle Belt Reformers Movement is sufficiently convinced and prompted to address you in an open epistle because unlike what your actions have taught us, your obvious and conspiratoral silence on the killing of Tiv people in Taraba state by your Jukun kinsmen to near genocidal levels indicates your acquisance.

12. General Sir, you had every opportunity to halt the crisis at it’s embroynic stage, hence it started in Kente, a Jukun community in Wukari LGA, the traditional headquarters of Jukun Kingdom.

13. We are not out to distribute blames to any of the warring factions. But just imagine what your initial word of caution to your Jukun kinsmen or any other group in Taraba state would have done in calming down frayed nerves to halt the conflagrations, save lost lives and the quantum of destruction of properties?

14. But Sir, while you were very vocal in accusing Fulani herdsmen, including the Army, your primary constituency of complicity in the alleged coercive execution of Islamisation agenda on Jukuns in Taraba state, you are curiously and suspiciously mute on what your kinsmen are doing in the vicious extermination of Tiv people and other ethnic groups in the state.

15. MBRM is pained to approach you in this manner because your silence over the nearly three months killings before your nose does not give a positive testimony about anything you have been clamoring about herdsmen killings in the same state. Only an unwise man would ignore his burning house and rush to quench the fire on his neighbor’s roof.

16. We are concerned that your silence ennobled your warring kinsmen to satanically puncture the serenity and sacredness of Federal University, Wukari (FUW) a few days back. In the onslaught, three persons were killed and all of them of Tiv ethnicity. Yet, you are still quiet.

17. This singular action has portrayed your Jukun kinsmen as the untamed, wild and berserk aggressors. It is because you have reclined from cautioning them against the evil they are visiting on their fraternity in Taraba state, in the Middle Belt region.

18. May the souls of the victims, particularly, Mr. Msughter Vihior, a FUW’s 100 Level student of Microbiology; Mr. Mark Tsav, a security officer and the third victim gruesomely murdered at the varsity campus, when Jukun militias invaded the institution. Same condolences go to families of our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives in the prolonged internecine squabble, and may their souls Rest in Perfect Peace, amen!

19.Sir, so, when would you make a statement on the ongoing crisis between the Tivs and the Jukuns in Taraba, your home state? Please, do not compel us into believing it is only the alleged Fulani herdsmen killings are deserving of your attention or sermonisation around the world.

20. Both your national and international image is now at stake by your deliberate silence over your kinsmen’s extermination of another ethnic group in your state. We all know how you were extremely vocal when Fulanis were reportedly involved.

21. We are worried about your unpretentious silence on these killings, especially when your voice ought to count more and should sound loudest now that your very own brothers are involved. Or do we believe the killings in Taraba state have not been brought to your notice yet?

22. Yet, Barr. Benjamin Bako, President, Jukun Development Association (JUDA) spews everything in promotion of the crisis and killings. Apparently, he looks unto to you or rather emboldened by your silence to urge your kinsmen into more killings. But have you ever cautioned him?

23. We expect you to voice out in the next few days, if indeed, you are not the unseen or veiled force behind the Jukun massacres of other tribes for territorial expansion and rebranding of Taraba, as an exclusive Jukun state. The three persons killed at FUW by Jukun youths/ militias are all Christians.

24. And be reminded that when you eventually address Nigerians and the world to explain the massacres, let’s know whether it is JUKUNISATION of other tribes in Taraba state or what exactly is the agenda of your kinsmen.

25. Or do we believe it is your plot in collusion with your kinsmen to territorially “Islamize” the Tiv people ancestrally domiciled in Taraba State?

26. Lastly, let us remind you that world- wide, the TY Danjuma Family is on the international Investment portfolio as a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN- PRI). The UN- PRI prides a unique status as a global network of investors attuned to the ideals of promoting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues within it’s investment platforms. It’s odd for you to belong to this reverred international body, yet “supervise” your kinsmen kill other ethnic groups within your home state, and cause social dislocation, pains and sorrows, while you enjoy the convenience of silence.

27. Gen. TY Danjuma, it is time to speak to your conscience on the Jukun/ Tiv crisis and killings. Our people say, a stitch in time, saves nine. If not, we fear your hard earned positive reputation is almost going extinct at the octogenarian age of 80? It’s not good enough! Please speak out now!

28. We appreciate your patience for reading this open letter to you. And thank you, very much, Sir.

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